Neuropeptide Y receptor Y5 and nucleic acid sequences

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides novel NPY/PYY receptor proteins and the nucleic acid sequence encoding them. The invention is directed to the isolation, characterization, and pharmacological use of these receptors and nucleic acids. In particular, this invention provides human and rat NPY/PYY receptors (which we call the NPY Y5 receptor) and nucleic acids. Also provided are recombinant expression constructs useful for transfecting cells and expressing the protein in vitro and in vivo. The invention further provides methods for detecting expression levels of the protein as well as methods for screening for receptor antagonists and agonists to be used for the treatment of obesity or anorexia, respectively.

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Provisional Serial No. 60/014,969 filed on Apr. 8, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a novel neurotransmitter Neuropeptide Y receptor, its nucleic acid sequence, and compounds, compositions, and methods for their use.

[0004] 2. Summary of the Related Art

[0005] Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid peptide neurotransmitter that is located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. Tatemoto, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 5485 (1982); Hazlewood, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 202, 44 (1993). It affects a broad range of phenomena, including blood pressure regulation, memory, anxiolysis/sedation, food and water appetite, vascular and other smooth muscle activity, intestinal electrolyte secretion, and urinary sodium excretion. E.g., Colmers and Wahlestedt, The Biology of Neuropeptide Y and Related Peptides (Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1993); Kalra et al., Phys. & Behavior 50, 5 (1991).

[0006] Peptide YY (PYY) is also a 36 amino acid peptide and has significant sequence homology (70%) to NPY. Tatemoto et al., Nature 296, 659 (1982). Its anatomical distribution is similar to that of NPY, although it is located mainly in the endocrine cells of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Bottcher et al., Regul. Pept. 8, 261 (1984). Like NPY, PYY stimulates feeding in rats. Morley et al., Brain Res. 341, 200 (1985). Along with the pancreatic polypeptide (PP), NPY and PYY have a common tertiary structure, characterized by the so-called PP-fold. Glover, Eur. J. Biochem. 142, 379 (1985). Both NPY and PYY show about a 50% sequence homology with PP.

[0007] Because of their structural similarities, NPY and PYY have a number of common receptors. At least four receptor subtypes, Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4/PP, have been identified. The affinity for NPY, PYY, and various fragments thereof varies among the subtypes. See, e.g., Bard et al. (WO 95/17906) and references cited therein. For example, Y1 and Y2 subtypes have high affinity for NPY and PYY. Whereas Y1 has high affinity for (Leu³¹Pro³⁴)NPY ((LP)NPY)and low affinity for (13-36)NPY, Y2 behaves oppositely. Y3 has high affinity for NPY but low affinity for PYY. Y4/PP has a high affinity for PP but relatively low affinity for NPY.

[0008] Wahlestedt (WO 93/24515) and Larhammar et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 267, 10935 (1992)) describe the cloning and identification of the human Y1-type NPY/PYY receptor isolated from human fetal brain tissue. Selbie et al. (WO 93/09227) disclosed the full length cDNA sequence of the Y1 receptor from human hippocampus. Eva et al. (FEBS Lett. 271, 81 (1990)) cloned the NPY Y1 receptor from rat forebrain. Eva et al. (FEBS Lett. 314, 285 (1992)) cloned the NPY Y1 receptor from murine genomic DNA.

[0009] The Y2-type receptor has also been cloned. Gerald et al. (WO 95/21245) disclosed the cDNA sequence of human hippocampal Y2 and two rat Y2 clones. Rose et al. (J. Biol Chem. 270, 22661 (1995)) disclosed the cDNA sequence of the Y2 receptor from a human neuroblastoma cell line.

[0010] Bard et al. (supra) and Lundell et al. (J. Biol Chem. 270, 29123 (1995)) described cloning the cDNA sequence of the Y4/PP receptor from both rat spleen and human placenta.

[0011] To date, the Y3 receptor has not been cloned.

[0012] Because of the important role of NPY and PYY in a number of physiological processes, such as feeding, there is a strong need to further develop materials and methods for investigating the mechanistic behavior of these compounds and for treating diseased and other abnormal states associated with the physiological processes in which NPY and PYY act. Specifically, the NPY analogs/fragments that induce feeding, such as (LP)(3-36)NPY, do not bind to the previously identified NPY/PYY receptors with affinities consistent with the feeding response. Accordingly, there is a need and desire to identify the NPY/PYY receptor that is responsible for the feeding response. Antagonists to such a receptor could be used to treat obesity and diabetes by reducing appetite and food consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention provides, inter alia, novel NPY/PYY receptor proteins. Also provided are the nucleic acid sequences encoding these novel receptor proteins, as well as compounds and methods for using these proteins and their nucleic acid sequences.

[0014] The present invention provides novel proteins, nucleic acids, and methods useful for developing and identifying compounds for the treatment of such diseases and disorders as obesity. Identified and disclosed herein is the protein sequence for a novel receptor for the neurotransmitters Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Peptide YY (PYY) and the nucleic acid sequence encoding this receptor, which we call the NPY Y5 (or simply “Y5”) receptor. The importance of this discovery is manifested in the effects of NPY, which include blood pressure regulation, memory enhancement, anxiolysis/sedation, and increased food intake. Thus, this receptor protein is useful for screening for NPY/PYY agonist and antagonist activity for controlling these conditions.

[0015] In one aspect of the present invention, we provide isolated nucleic acid sequences for a novel NPY and PYY receptor, the Y5 receptor. In particular, we provide the cDNA sequences encoding for the rat and human receptors and isoforms thereof. These nucleic acid sequences have a variety of uses. For example, they are useful for making vectors and for transforming cells, both of which are ultimately useful for production of the Y5 receptor protein. They are also useful as scientific research tools for developing nucleic acid probes for determining receptor expression levels, e.g., to identify diseased or otherwise abnormal states. They are useful for developing analytical tools such as antisense oligonucleotides for selectively inhibiting expression of the receptor gene to determine physiological responses.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, we provide a homogenous composition comprising the receptor Y5 protein. The protein is useful for screening drugs for agonist and antagonist activity, and, therefore, for screening for drugs useful in regulating physiological responses associated with the Y5 receptor. Specifically, antagonists to the Y5 receptor could be used to treat obesity and diabetes by reducing appetite and food consumption, whereas agonists could be used for the treatment of anorexic conditions. The proteins are also useful for developing antibodies for detection of the protein.

[0017] Flowing from the foregoing are a number of other aspects of the invention, including (a) vectors, such as plasmids, comprising the receptor Y5 nucleic acid sequence that may further comprise additional regulatory elements, e.g., promoters, (b) transformed cells that express the Y5 receptor, (c) nucleic acid probes, (d) antisense oligonucleotides, (e) agonists, (f) antagonists, and (g) transgenic mammals. Further aspects of the invention comprise methods for making and using the foregoing compounds and compositions.

[0018] The foregoing merely summarizes certain aspects of the present invention and is not intended, nor should it be construed, to limit the invention in any manner. All patents and other publications recited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 displays the competition curves of various peptides for [¹²⁵I]PYY to Y5 receptor membranes transiently expressed in COS-7 cells.

[0020]FIG. 2 displays saturation curves for specific binding of [¹²⁵I]PYY to Y5 receptor membranes transiently expressed in COS-7 cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention comprises, in part, a novel NPY/PYY receptor protein, the Y5 receptor. Particularly preferred embodiments of the Y5 receptor are those having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NOs 2, 4, or 6. As used herein, reference to the Y5 receptor is meant as a reference to any protein having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NOs 2, 4, or 6. The present invention also comprises the nucleic acid sequence encoding the Y5 protein, which nucleic acid sequences is substantially the same as SEQ ID NOs 1, 3, or 5. Receptors SEQ ID NOs 2 and SEQ ID NO 4 are rat Y5 receptors and appear to be allelic variations, with SEQ ID NO 4 the most commonly occurring and, therefore, the preferred embodiment of the rat Y5 receptor of this invention. SEQ ID NO 6 is the human Y5 receptor and its preferred embodiment.

[0022] As used herein, a protein “having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO x” (where “x” is the number of one of the protein sequences recited in the Sequence Listing) means a protein whose amino acid sequence is the same as SEQ ID NO x or differs only in a way such that IC₅₀[(3-36)NPY], IC₅₀[(Leu³¹Pro³⁴)NPY], and IC₅₀[(Leu³¹Pro³⁴) (3-36)NPY] as determined according to the method detailed in Example 4, infra, are less than or equal to 30 nM. The NPY fragments (3-36)NPY, (Leu³¹Pro³⁴)NPY and (Leu³¹Pro³⁴)(3-36)NPY induce a feeding response. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that conservative substitutions of amino acids can be made without significantly diminishing the protein's affinity for NPY, PYY, and fragments and analogs thereof. Other substitutions may be made that increase the protein's affinity for these compounds. Making and identifying such proteins is a routine matter given the teachings herein, and can be accomplished, for example, by altering the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein (as disclosed herein), inserting it into a vector, transforming a cell, expressing the nucleic acid sequence, and measuring the binding affinity of the resulting protein, all as taught herein.

[0023] As used herein the term “a molecule having a nucleotide sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO y” (wherein “y” is the number of one of the protein-encoding nucleotide sequences listed in the Sequence Listing) means a nucleic acid encoding a protein “having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO y+1” (wherein “y+1” is the number of the amino acid sequence for which nucleotide sequence “y” codes) as defined above. This definition is intended to encompass natural allelic variations in the Y5 sequence. Cloned nucleic acid provided by the present invention may encode Y5 protein of any species of origin, including (but not limited to), for example, mouse, rat, rabbit, cat, dog, primate, and human. Preferably the nucleic acid provided by the invention encodes Y5 receptors of mammalian, and most preferably, rat or human origin.

[0024] The invention also includes nucleotide sequences encoding chimeric proteins comprised of parts of the Y5 receptor and parts of other related seven-transmembrane receptors.

[0025] The 6B clone (SEQ ID NO 1) (see Example 2, infra) has a 2.4 kb cDNA insert with a open reading frame from nucleotide 248 to 1582 that encodes a 445 amino acid protein (SEQ ID NO 2). Hydrophobicity plot analysis using PEPPLOT of GCG shows that the Y5 receptor has seven transmembrane-like domains, indicating it might be a G-protein-coupled receptor. Unlike other known subtypes of NPY receptor family, the third intracellular loop of the Y5 receptor is unusually long. Another novel feature of the Y5 peptide sequence is that it has a much shorter C-terminal tail sequence than other known members of the NPY receptor family. It is also important to note that the Y5 sequence shows only 30-33% amino acid sequence identity to other NPY receptors.

[0026] Nucleic acid hybridization probes provided by the invention are DNAs consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequences complementary to any sequence depicted in SEQ ID NOs 1, 3, and 5 that is effective in nucleic acid hybridization. Nucleic acid probes are useful for detecting Y5 gene expression in cells and tissues using techniques well-known in the art, including, but not limited to, Northern blot hybridization, in situ hybridization, and Southern hybridization to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction product DNAs. The probes provided by the present invention, including oligonucleotide probes derived therefrom, are also useful for Southern hybridization of mammalian, preferably human, genomic DNA for screening for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) associated with certain genetic disorders. As used herein, the term complementary means a nucleic acid having a sequence that is sufficiently complementary in the Watson-Crick sense to a target nucleic acid to bind to the target under physiological conditions or experimental conditions those skilled in the art routinely use when employing probes.

[0027] Receptor Y5 binds various fragments and analogs of NPY and PYY with affinities different from that of the known receptors. The rank order of binding affinity of receptor Y5 was found to be:

NPY=(LP)NPY=PYY=(3-36)NPY=(LP)(3-36)NPY>(10-36)NPY>(18-36)NPY

[0028] Table 1, infra, presents a more detailed affinity profile of the Y5 receptor for NPY, PYY, and various fragments thereof. As used herein, a protein having substantially the same affinity profile as the Y5 receptor means a protein in which the IC₅₀ of each of the peptides listed in Table 1, infra, is no more than an order of magnitude greater than those listed in Table 1 for each of the respective peptides as measured according to the methods described in Example 4. Importantly, the NPY analogs/fragments that induce feeding, such as (LP)(3-36)NPY, do not bind to the previously identified NPY/PYY receptors with affinities consistent with the feeding response.

[0029] The production of proteins such as receptor Y5 from cloned genes by genetic engineering means is well known in this art. The discussion which follows is accordingly intended as an overview of this field, and is not intended to reflect the full state of the art.

[0030] DNA which encodes receptor Y5 may be obtained, in view of the instant disclosure, by chemical synthesis, by screening reverse transcripts of mRNA from appropriate cells or cell line cultures, by screening genomic libraries from appropriate cells, or by combinations of these procedures, as illustrated below. Screening of mRNA or genomic DNA may be carried out with oligonucleotide probes generated from the Y5 gene sequence information provided herein. Probes may be labeled with a detectable group such as a fluorescent group, a radioactive atom or a chemiluminescent group in accordance with known procedures and used in conventional hybridization assays, as described in greater detail in the Examples below. In the alternative, the Y5 gene sequence may be obtained by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure, with the PCR oligonucleotide primers being produced from the Y5 gene sequence provided herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195 to Mullis et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202 to Mullis.

[0031] Receptor Y5 may be synthesized in host cells transformed with a recombinant expression construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding the receptor Y5. Such a recombinant expression construct can also be comprised of a vector that is a replicable DNA construct. Vectors are used herein either to amplify DNA encoding Y5 and/or to express DNA which encodes Y5. For the purposes of this invention, a recombinant expression construct is a replicable DNA construct in which a DNA sequence encoding Y5 is operably linked to suitable control sequences capable of effecting the expression of Y5 in a suitable host. The need for such control sequences will vary depending upon the host selected and the transformation method chosen. Generally, control sequences include a transcriptional promoter, an optional operator sequence to control transcription, a sequence encoding suitable mRNA ribosomal binding sites, and sequences which control the termination of transcription and translation. Amplification vectors do not require expression control domains. All that is needed is the ability to replicate in a host, usually conferred by an origin of replication, and a selection gene to facilitate recognition of transformants. See, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York, 1989).

[0032] Vectors useful for practicing the present invention include plasmids, viruses (including phage), retroviruses, and integratable DNA fragments (i.e., fragments integratable into the host genome by homologous recombination). The vector replicates and functions independently of the host genome, or may, in some instances, integrate into the genome itself Suitable vectors will contain replicon and control sequences which are derived from species compatible with the intended expression host. The vectors may be self-replicating. Suitable vectors for the purposes of the present invention include pBluescript, pcDNA3, and, for insect cells, baculovirus. A preferred vector is the plasmid pcDNA3 (Invitrogen).

[0033] Construction of suitable vectors containing the desired coding and control sequences employs standard ligation and restriction techniques that are well understood in the art. Isolated plasmids, DNA sequences, or synthesized oligonucleotides are cleaved, tailored, and relegated in the form desired.

[0034] Site-specific DNA cleavage is performed by treating with the suitable restriction enzyme (or enzymes) under conditions that are generally understood in the art, and the particulars of which are specified by the manufacturer of these commercially available restriction enzymes. See, e.g., New England Biolabs, Product Catalog. In general, about 1 μg of plasmid or DNA sequence is cleaved by one unit of enzyme in about 20 μl of buffer solution. Often excess of restriction enzyme is used to ensure complete digestion of the DNA substrate. Incubation times of about one hour to two hours at about 37° C. are workable, although variations are tolerable. After each incubation, protein is removed by extraction with phenol/chloroform, and may be followed by ether extraction. The nucleic acid may be recovered from aqueous fractions by precipitation with ethanol. If desired, size separation of the cleaved fragments may be performed by polyacrylamide gel or agarose gel electrophoresis using standard techniques. A general description of size separations is found in Methods in Enzymology 65, 499-560 (1980).

[0035] Transformed host cells are cells which have been transformed or transfected with recombinant expression constructs made using recombinant DNA techniques and comprising mammalian Y5-encoding sequences. Preferred host cells for transient transfection are COS-7 cells. Transformed host cells may ordinarily express Y5, but host cells transformed for purposes of cloning or amplifying nucleic acid hybridization probe DNA need not express the receptor. When expressed, the mammalian Y5 protein will typically be located in the host cell membrane. See, Sambrook et al., ibid.

[0036] Cultures of cells derived from multicellular organisms are desirable hosts for recombinant Y5 protein synthesis. In principal, any higher eukaryotic cell culture is workable, whether from vertebrate or invertebrate culture. However, mammalian cells are preferred, as illustrated in the Examples. Propagation of such cells in cell culture has become a routine procedure. See Tissue Culture (Academic Press, Kruse & Patterson, Eds., 1973). Examples of useful host cell lines are bacteria cells, insect cells, yeast cells, human 293 cells, VERO and HeLa cells, LMTK⁻ cells, and WI138, BHK, COS-7, CV, and MDCK cell lines. Human 293 cells are preferred.

[0037] The invention provides homogeneous compositions of mammalian Y5 produced by transformed eukaryotic cells as provided herein. Such homogeneous compositions are intended to be comprised of mammalian Y5 protein that comprises at least 90% of the protein in such homogenous composition. The invention also provides membrane preparation from cells expressing Y5 as the result of transformation with a recombinant expression construct, as described here.

[0038] Mammalian Y5 protein made from cloned genes in accordance with the present invention may be used for screening compounds for Y5 agonist or antagonist activity, or for determining the amount of a Y5 agonist or antagonist drug in a solution (e.g., blood plasma or serum). For example, host cells may be transformed with a recombinant expression construct of the present invention, Y5 protein expressed in those host cells, the cells lysed, and the membranes from those cells used to screen compounds for Y5 binding activity. Competitive binding assays in which such procedures may be carried out are well known in the art. By selection of host cells which do not ordinarily express Y5, pure or crude preparations of membranes containing Y5 can be obtained. Further, Y5 agonists and antagonists can be identified by transforming host cells with a recombinant expression construct as provided by the present invention. Membranes obtained from such cells (and membranes of intact cells) can be used in binding studies wherein the drug dissociation activity is monitored.

[0039] It is known that the neurotransmitter NPY is a regulator of appetite. As shown herein, the various NPY analogs/fragments that induce feeding, such as (LP)(3-36)NPY, bind with a high affinity to the Y5 receptor. Conversely, the NPY analogs/fragments that bind to the Y5 receptor with a lower affinity, such as (20-36)NPY, do not elicit feeding. It is therefore evident that by contacting the Y5 receptor with agonists and antagonists, feeding can be modulated. Accordingly, antagonists to the Y5 receptor, identified by the methods described herein, can be used to reduce appetite and hence treat obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, and, conversely, agonists to the Y5 receptor can be used to treat conditions such as anorexia.

[0040] This invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a agonist or antagonist drug identified by the method described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such drugs and carrier can be administered by various routes, for example oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or intracerebral. The preferred route of administration would be oral at daily doses of about 0.01-100 mg/kg.

[0041] This invention provides a method of treating obesity, diabetes or hyperlipidemia, wherein the abnormality is improved by reducing the activity of Y5 receptor or blocking the binding of ligands to a Y5 receptor, which method comprises administering an effective amount of the antagonist-containing pharmaceutical composition described above to suppress the subject's appetite. Similarly, the invention also provides methods for treating diseases and conditions resulting from underfeeding and/or a loss of appetite, which method comprises administering an effective amount of an agonist-containing pharmaceutical composition described above to stimulate the subject's appetite.

[0042] The recombinant expression constructs of the present invention are useful in molecular biology to transform cells which do not ordinarily express Y5 to thereafter express this receptor. Such cells are useful as intermediates for making cell membrane preparations useful for receptor binding assays, which are in turn useful for drug screening. Drugs identified from such receptor assays can be used for the treatment of obesity, diabetes or anorexia.

[0043] The recombinant expression constructs of the present invention are also useful in gene therapy. Cloned genes of the present invention, or fragments thereof, may also be used in gene therapy carried out by homologous recombination or site-directed mutagenesis. See generally Thomas & Capecchi, Cell 51, 503-512 (1987); Bertling, Bioscience Reports 7, 107-112 (1987); Smithies et al., Nature 317, 230-234 (1985).

[0044] Oligonucleotides of the present invention are useful as diagnostic tools for probing Y5 gene expression in tissues. For example, tissues are probed in situ with oligonucleotide probes carrying detectable groups by conventional autoradiographic techniques, as explained in greater detail in the Examples below, to investigate native expression of this receptor or pathological conditions relating thereto. Further, chromosomes can be probed to investigate the presence or absence of the Y5 gene, and potential pathological conditions related thereto, as also illustrated by the Examples below. Probes according to the invention should generally be at least about 15 nucleotides in length to prevent binding to random sequences, but, under the appropriate circumstances may be smaller.

[0045] The invention also provides antibodies that are immunologically reactive to a mammalian Y5, preferably rat or human Y5. The antibodies provided by the invention are raised in animals by inoculation with cells that express a mammalian Y5 or epitopes thereof, using methods well known in the art. Animals that are used for such inoculations include individuals from species comprising cows, sheep, pigs, mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters, goats and primates. Preferred animals for inoculation are rodents (including mice, rats, hamsters) and rabbits. The most preferred animal is the mouse.

[0046] Cells that can be used for such inoculations, or for any of the other means used in the invention, include any cell line which naturally expresses a mammalian Y5, or any cell or cell line that expresses a mammalian Y5 or any epitope thereof as a result of molecular or genetic engineering, or that has been treated to increase the expression of a mammalian Y5 by physical, biochemical or genetic means. Preferred cells are human cells, most preferably HEK 293 and BHK cells that have been transformed with a recombinant expression construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding a mammalian Y5, preferably a rat or human Y5, and that express the mammalian Y5 gene product.

[0047] The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that are immunologically reactive with an epitope of mammalian Y5 or fragment thereof and that is present on the surface of mammalian cells, preferably human or mouse cells. These antibodies are made using methods and techniques well known to those of skill in the art.

[0048] Monoclonal antibodies provided by the present invention are produced by hybridoma cell lines, that are also provided by the invention and that are made by methods well known in the art. Hybridoma cell lines are made by fusing individual cells of a myeloma cell line with spleen cells derived from animals immunized with cells expressing the Y5 receptor, preferably rat or human cells, as described above. The myeloma cell lines used in the invention include lines derived from myelomas of mice, rats, hamsters, primates and humans. Preferred myeloma cell lines are from mouse. The animals from whom spleens are obtained after immunization are rats, mice and hamsters, preferably mice, most preferably Balb/c mice. Spleen cells and myeloma cells are fused using a number of methods well known in the art, including but not limited to incubation with inactivated Sendai virus and incubation in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The most preferred method for cell fusion is incubation in the presence of a solution of 45% (w/v) PEG-1450. Monoclonal antibodies produced by hybridoma cell lines can be harvested from cell culture supernatant fluids from in vitro cell growth; alternatively, hybridoma cells can be injected subcutaneously and/or into the peritoneal cavity of an animal, most preferably a mouse, and the monoclonal antibodies obtained from blood and/or ascites fluid.

[0049] Monoclonal antibodies provided by the present invention are also produced by recombinant genetic methods well known to those of skill in the art, and the present invention encompasses antibodies made by such methods that are immunologically reactive with an epitope of a mammalian Y5.

[0050] The present invention encompasses fragments of the antibody that are immunologically reactive with an epitope of a mammalian Y5. Such fragments are produced by any number of methods, including but not limited to proteolytic cleavage, chemical synthesis or preparation of such fragments by means of genetic engineering technology. The present invention also encompasses single-chain antibodies that are immunologically reactive with an epitope of a mammalian Y5 made by methods known to those of skill in the art.

[0051] The present invention also encompasses an epitope of a mammalian Y5 that is comprised of sequences and/or a conformation of sequences present in the mammalian Y5 molecule. This epitope may be naturally occurring, or may be the result of proteolytic cleavage of the mammalian Y5 molecule and isolation of an epitope-containing peptide or may be obtained by synthesis of an epitope-containing peptide using methods well known to those skilled in the art. The present invention also encompasses epitope peptides produced as a result of genetic engineering technology and synthesized by genetically engineered prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells.

[0052] The invention also includes chimeric antibodies, comprised of light chain and heavy chain peptides immunologically reactive to an epitope that is a mammalian Y5. The chimeric antibodies embodied in the present invention include those that are derived from naturally occurring antibodies as well as chimeric antibodies made by means of genetic engineering technology well known to those of skill in the art.

[0053] Also provided by the present invention are non-human transgenic animals grown from germ cells transformed with the Y5 nucleic acid sequence according to the invention and that express the Y5 receptor according to the invention and offspring and descendants thereof. Also provided are transgenic non-human mammals comprising a homologous recombination knockout of the native Y5 receptor, as well as transgenic non-human mammals grown from germ cells transformed with nucleic acid antisense to the Y5 nucleic acid of the invention and offspring and descendants thereof. Further included as part of the present invention are transgenic animals which the native Y5 receptor has been replaced with the human homolog. Of course, offspring and descendants of all of the foregoing transgenic animals are also encompassed by the invention.

[0054] Transgenic animals according to the invention can be made using well known techniques with the nucleic acids disclosed herein. E.g., Leder et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,736,866 and 5,175,383; Hogan et al., Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1986)); Capecchi, Science 244, 1288 (1989); Zimmer and Gruss, Nature 338, 150 (1989); Kuhn et al., Science 269, 1427 (1995); Katsuki et al., Science 241, 593 (1988); Hasty et al., Nature 350, 243 (1991); Stacey et al., Mol. Cell Biol 14, 1009 (1994); Hanks et al., Science 269, 679 (1995); and Marx, Science 269, 636 (1995). Such transgenic animals are useful for screening for and determining the physiological effects of Y5 receptor agonists and antagonist. Consequently, such transgenic animals are useful for developing drugs to regulate physiological activities in which NPY and/or PYY participate.

[0055] The following Examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended, nor should they be construed, as limiting the invention in any manner.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation and Sequencing of Rat Y5 Receptor

[0056] Isolation of Rat Hypothalamus mRNA and Construction of cDNA Library

[0057] Expression cloning strategy was used to clone novel NPY receptor in rat hypothalamus cDNA library. RNA was obtained from 9 frozen rat hypothalami weighing a total of 0.87 grams. Poly(A) RNA was isolated directly from the tissue using the Promega PolyATtract System 1000 kit (Promega, Madison, Wis.). The hypothalami were homogenized in 4 mL of 4 M guanidine thiocyanate-25 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.1-2% β-mercaptoethanol using a Polytron at full-speed for approximately 1 minute. To the homogenized tissue 8 mL of 4 M guanidine thiocyanate-25 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.1-1% β-mercaptoethanol which had been preheated to 70° C. was added. After mixing thoroughly, 870 pmol biotinylated oligo(dT) was added; the mixture was incubated at 70° C. for 5 minutes. The homogenate was subjected to centrifugation at 12000×g for 10 minutes at room temperature; the homogenate was transferred to a clean tube and 10.44 mL Streptavidin MAGNESPHERE® Paramagnetic Particles (SA-PMPs) which had been prepared as per the published protocol was added. (Promega Corp. published protocol TM 228; Promega Corporation, Madison, Wis.). The homogenate and SA-PMPs were incubated together for 2 minutes at room temperature after which the homogenate was decanted while the SA-PMP-biotinylated oligo(dT)-hypothalamic poly(A) RNA complex was retained in the tube by a magnetic stand. The complex was washed-as per the protocol, after which the RNA was precipitated and resuspended in water. 25 micrograms of this poly(A) RNA was used by Invitrogen (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, Calif.) to prepare a cDNA expression library. The protocols used by Invitrogen to prepare the cDNA library are essentially based upon the procedures of Okayama and Berg (Molec. Cell. Biol. 2, 161 (1982)) and Gubler and Hoffman (Gene 25, 263 (1983)) (Invitrogen Corporation publications 130813sa and 130928sa). An oligo(dT) anchor primer was used for reverse transcription, and the library was cloned unidirectionally into pcDNA3 vector which contains a CMV promoter for eukaryotic expression. The cDNA library had 5.3×10⁵ primary recombinants with an average insert size of 2.59 kb.

[0058] Isolation of a Novel Y5 Receptor cDNA Clone

[0059] The rat hypothalamus cDNA library was plated on the LB/Ampicillin plates in pools of 1,000 independent colonies. The plates were incubated at 37° C. for about 20 hours and the bacteria from each plate were scraped in 4-5 ml LB/Ampicillin media. Two ml of the bacteria samples were used for plasmid preparation and one ml of each pool was stored at −80° C. in 15% glycerol.

[0060] COS-7 cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium ( DMEM, GIBCO 11965-092), 10% fetal bovine serum (GIBCO 16000-028), and 1×antibiotic/antimycotic solution (GIBCO 15240-039) (Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were trypsinized and split at 50 to 70% confluency.

[0061] DNA from 1300 pools was transfected into COS-7 cells for [¹²⁵I]PYY binding assays. Twenty four hours before transfection, cells were plated into flaskette chambers (Nunc, Inc. 177453, Naperville, Ill.) at 3×10⁵ cells/flaskette (equivalent to 3×10⁴ cells/cm²). Two μg of plasmid DNA from each pool was transfected into the cells using 10 μl of Lipofectamine (GIBCO 18324-012) according to the manufacture's protocol. Forty eight hours after transfection, the [¹²⁵I]PYY binding assay was performed in the flaskette chamber. The cells were treated with 2 ml total binding buffer: 10 mM HEPES, 5 mM KCl, 1.2 mM KH₂PO₄, 2.5 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 mM MgSO₄, 150 mM NaCl, 25 mM NaHCO₃, 10 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, 0.5 mg/ml bacitracin and 0.4 mg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor at room temperature for 15 minutes. The cells were then incubated with 100 pM porcine [¹²⁵I]PYY (Amersham (Arlington Heights, Ill., Specific Activity 4000 Ci/mmol) in the total binding buffer for 90 minutes at room temperature. After binding, the cells were washed three times with ice-cold total binding buffer without ligand and one time with cold phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Cells were fixed with 1% cold glutaraldehyde in PBS for 15 minutes, washed once with cold PBS/0.5 M Tris, pH 7.5 and incubated in PBS/0.5 M Tris, pH 7.5 for 15 minutes at 4° C. After washing one more time with cold PBS, the slides were dipped in 0.5% gelatin at 42° C. and dried under vacuum. The dried slides were dipped in 50% photographic emulsion (Kodak (Rochester, N.Y.) NTB2) at 42° C. and exposed in the darkbox for four days at 4° C. After four days of exposure, the darkbox was moved to room temperature for one hour and slides were developed in developer D-19 (Kodak) for three minutes at 15° C. and fixed in fixer (Kodak) for three minutes at 15° C., washed in water and air dried. Cells were stained with Diff-Quik stain set (Baxter, McGaw Park, Ill.) and air dried. Slides were dipped into xylenes and mounted with DPX mountant (Electron Microscopy Science, Fort Washington, Pa.). Positive cells were identified using dark field microscopy.

[0062] Twenty one positive pools were identified. Since the hypothalamus expresses different subtypes of NPY receptors including Y1 and Y2 receptors, we analyzed all the positive pools for Y1, Y2 and Y4/PP receptors by PCR. Of the 21 positive pools tested as described above, 12 pools contained Y1, 4 pools contained Y2 and none contained Y4/PP. Five pools (Y217, Y555, Y589, Y861 and Y1139) were negative by PCR analysis. The pool Y217 was subdivided in 24 subpools of 200 colonies, then 50 colonies, and finally a single clone, the Y217.24.13.6B clone (6B), was isolated.

[0063] DNA and Peptide Sequences Analysis

[0064] Plasmid DNA was sequenced by Lark Technologies Inc. (Houston, Tex.) and Biotechnology Resource Laboratory of Yale University (New Haven, Conn.) using Sequenase Kit (US Biochemical, Cleveland, Ohio) or Applied Biosystems' automatic sequencer system (model 373A). The peptide sequence was deduced from the long open-reading-frame of the nucleotide sequence. DNA and peptide sequences were analyzed using the GCG program (Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wis.). The results are embodied in SEQ ID NO 1 (the nucleic acid sequence) and SEQ ID NO 2 (the amino acid sequence).

Example 2 Localization of Rat YS Receptor in Brain and Other Tissues

[0065] Northern Blot

[0066] To study the expression level of the Y5 receptor in the rat brain and other tissues, we did Northern blot analysis using the 6B 2.4 kb probe. A rat multiple tissue Northern blot (Clontech Laboratories, Palo Alto, Calif.) was hybridized to the ³²P-labeled rat 6B probe. The blot contains 2 μg of poly A⁺ RNA per lane from rat heart, brain, spleen, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and testis. Hybridization was carried out in 1×hybridization solution containing 6×SSC (0.9 M NaCl, 0.09 M Na Citrate, pH 7.0), 5×Denhardt's solution (0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone, 0.1% ficoll type 400, 0.1% bovine serum albumin), 100 mg/ml sheared, and denatured salmon sperm DNA at 65° C. The filter was washed at 65° C. in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS and exposed to Kodak XAR 5 film with two intensifying screens. A single 2.6 kb band was detected in the brain after overnight exposure of the blot. No bands were found from other tissues (heart, spleen, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and testis) in the Clontech multiple tissue Northern blot, even after six days of exposure.

[0067] We tested 6B expression in more rat tissues and different regions of brain. mRNA was isolated from rat whole brain, cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, spleen, stomach, kidney, small intestine, adrenal and pancreas using Fast Track Isolation Kit (Invitrogen). Ten μg of mRNA from different brain regions and multiple tissues were run on a denaturing formaldehyde 1% agarose gel, transferred to a Nytran membrane (Schleicher and Schuell) and hybridized with ³²P-labeled 6B 2.4 kb probe and washed at high stringency. After overnight hybridization, the filter was washed at high stringency and exposed to X-ray film with intensifying screens. The 6B receptor mRNA was detectable in the brain regions examined after one day exposure, but no signal was observed from other tissues, even after a week exposure with double intensifying screens.

Example 3 Isolation of Two Isoforms of the Rat Y5 Receptor

[0068] Plasmid DNA from pools Y555, Y589, and Y861 described in Example 1 were hybridized to the Y5 probe at high stringency. A single positive clone was isolated from the Y555 pool and sequenced as described in Example 1. Compared to the 6B DNA sequence, the Y555 sequence (SEQ ID NO 4 has a 123 bp insert sequence located at the 5′-untranslated region between nucleotides 239 and 240 of Y5 clone. The coding region of the clones Y555, Y589, and Y861 has the same sequence as clone 6B, except for one nucleotide substitution (C to T) at position 430 of the 6B clone. The nucleotide substitution changes the amino acid proline to leucine in the first transmembrane domain. The corresponding amino acid sequence is given by SEQ ID NO 4.

[0069] The different isoforms of the receptor could be the allelic variants of the same gene. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed genomic DNA from 16 rats. The genomic DNA from each animal was used as template for PCR analysis. A 314 bp DNA fragment that contains the site of the nucleotide variation was amplified and sequenced. Of the 16 DNA samples tested, 14 samples had a T at position 430 and 2 samples had a C. This result strongly suggests that the amino acid variation is an allelic variant.

Example 4 Pharmacological Characterization of the Novel Rat NPY Receptors

[0070] Transient Transfection

[0071] Monkey kidney cells (COS-7) were maintained in T-175 cm² flasks (NUNC) at 37° C. with 5% CO₂ in a humidified atmosphere. Cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 2 mM glutamine, 10% fetal bovine serum, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, and antibiotic/antimycotic. Cells at 70% confluency were transfected with Y5 DNA using the Lipofectamine method (GIBCO-BRL). 15 μg DNA and 90 μl Lipofectamine were added to each flask. Media was completely replaced 24 hours post transfection, and membranes were harvested 24 hours later.

[0072] Stable Expression of the Rat NPY Y5 Receptor (Clone Y861)

[0073] A strain of the human embryonic kidney cell line 293 adapted to grow in suspension (293S) was used for these experiments. Approximately 1×10⁶ cells were seeded onto a 10-cm dish 24 hours prior to transfection. The rat NPY Y5 cDNA (Y861), subcloned in the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) was first linearized with NotI and purified using a Wizard PCR Prep kit (Promega). In preparation for transfection, 15 μg of the linearized DNA were added to 500 μl of DMEM cell culture media, and 30 μl of Lipofectamine (Life Sciences) were added into a separate 500 μl aliquot of DMEM. These two solutions were mixed together and incubated for 20 minutes at room temperature and the resulting DNA/lipid complexes were then slowly added to the cells (which had been previously rinsed once with serum-free DMEM) and covered with a total volume of 10 ml. Cells were then transferred to a humidified 10% CO₂ incubator and left for 4 hours at 37° C., at which time the media was replaced with DMEM supplemented with 8% FBS. After 16 hours, cells were trypsinized and split at a 1:15 ratio into 10-cm dishes containing DMEM/8% FBS in the presence of 700 μg/ml of G418 (selection media). When discrete colonies became apparent (after approximately 10 days), cells were pooled and carried through 2 additional passages in selection media. Cells were then trypsinized and diluted in preparation for cloning by limited dilution (CBLD), such that an average of one cell was seeded in each well of a 96-well microtiter culture plate, and was inspected periodically for the subsequent 2 to 3 weeks. After 21 days in culture under selection conditions, those wells containing single colonies were selected and transferred to 24-well culture plates following trypsinization. Each of these clones was propagated until sufficient quantities were available for testing [¹²⁵I]PYY binding activity, from which one particular clone designated E7 was selected on the basis of its high level of binding activity.

[0074] Stable Expression of the Human NPY Y5 Receptor

[0075] 293 cells were plated onto a T75 flask one day prior to transfection such that they were 50-70% confluent when used for the experiment. The human NPY Y5 intronless genomic clone HG.PCR15, containing the full length open reading frame encoding the receptor, was first linearized with Not I and purified using a Wizard PCR Prep kit (Promega). For each transfection, 8 μg of linearized DNA were added to 1.25 ml of Optimem culture media (Life Sciences) and 37 μl of Transfectam (Promega) were added to 1.25 ml of Optimem. These two solutions were then mixed together and added to cells previously washed once with Optimem. After an incubation period of 5 hours, the DNA/Transfectam mixture was removed, cells were washed with PBS and fed with DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Cells were left intact for two days, and then switched to selection media (DMEM 10% FBS containing 350 μg/ml of G418) for 5-10 days followed by CBLD as described above. The individual clone 293.hy5.sb.8 was selected on the basis of its high level of [¹²⁵I]PYY binding activity, using the intact cell binding protocol from above.

[0076] Membrane Preparation

[0077] The media was removed from each flask of transfected cells, and the cells were washed twice with 20 ml ice-cold phosphate buffered saline. The cells were scraped from the flask in 5 ml of Tris buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl and 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.7), and then transferred to a centrifuge tube. Each flask was washed with an additional 5 ml of Tris buffer and combined in the centrifuge tube. The cells were polytroned for 2×10 seconds (12 mm probe, 7000-8000 rpm) and centrifuged 5 minutes (Centra 7R, International Equipment Co., Needham Heights, Mass.) at 800 rpm and 4° C. The supernatant was then transferred to a clean centrifuge tube and was centrifuged at 30,000×g for 30 minutes and 4° C. The supernatant was removed and the pellet was stored at −80° C. Protein concentration was measured using the Bio-Rad kit pursuant to the standard manufacturer's protocol (Biorad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) with bovine IgG as the standard.

[0078] [¹²⁵I]PYY Binding Assay for NPY Y5 Receptors

[0079] The binding assays were performed on GF/C Millipore (Bedford, Mass.) 96-well plates pretreated with 0.02% polyethylenimine (PEI) for at least 2 hours prior to use. The PEI was aspirated from the plates on a vacuum manifold immediately before the samples were added to the wells. All peptides, tissue and radioligand were diluted with binding buffer (25 mM Tris, 120 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1.2 mM KH₂PO₄, 2.5 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 mM MgSO₄, 0.1% BSA and 0.5 mg/ml bacitracin, pH 7.4). For competition assays, increasing concentrations of peptide were incubated with [¹²⁵I]PYY and tissue. In a final volume of 200 μl, samples consisted of: membrane protein (i.e., 2.5-15 or 10-30 μg membrane protein for rat Y5 or human Y5, respectively); 75-100 pM [¹²⁵I]PYY NEN-DuPont (Boston, Mass.); peptide dilution or binding buffer. Nonspecific binding was defined by 1 μM PYY, NPY, PYY, (2-36)NPY, (10-36)NPY, (LP)(3-36)NPY and (32D-Trp)NPY were synthesized at Bayer Corp. (West Haven, Conn.). All other peptides were purchased from either Peninsula (Belmont, Calif.) or Bachem (Torrance, Calif.).

[0080] For saturation experiments, increasing concentrations of [¹²⁵I]PYY were incubated with membrane and 1 μM PYY. After a 2 hour incubation at room temperature with constant mixing, the samples were aspirated on a vacuum manifold. The wells were washed with three 200 μl aliquots of ice-cold binding buffer. The individual wells were punched into 12×75 mm plastic tubes, and counted on a Wallac (Gaithersburg, Md.) gamma counter. Binding data were analyzed using the nonlinear regression curve-fitting program RS/1 (BBN Software Products Corp., Cambridge, Mass.).

[0081] Binding Assays for Rat Y2. Y1. and Y4/PP1 Receptors

[0082] The binding buffer for rat Y2 binding was Krebs/Ringer bicarbonate (Sigma K-4002, S-8875), pH 7.4, containing 0.01% bovine serum albumin (BSA-Sigma A-2153) and 0.005% bacitracin. 0.85-1 μg of protein and 25 pM [¹²⁵I]PYY are added to each well. Nonspecific binding is defined by 1 μM NPY.

[0083] The binding buffer for rat Y1 and rat Y4/PP1 binding consisted of 137 mM NaCl, 5.4 mM KCl, 0.44 mM KH₂PO₄, 1.26 mM CaCl₂, 0.81 mM MgSO₄, 20 mM HEPES, 1 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), 0.1% bacitracin, 100 mg/l streptomycin sulfate, 1 mg/l aprotinin, 10 mg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor and 0.3% BSA, pH 7.4. For rat Y1 binding, ˜5-15 μg of protein and 50 pM [¹²⁵I]PYY were added to each well, and nonspecific binding was defined by 1 μM NPY. For the rat Y4/PP1 binding assay, ˜1-2 μg of protein and 50 pM rat [¹²⁵I]PP (NEN DuPont, Boston, Mass.) were added to each well, and 1 μM rat PP was used to define nonspecific binding.

[0084] In Vitro Functional Assay—Measurement of Forskolin-Stimulated Adenylate Cyclase

[0085] Rat Y5

[0086] (Reference: Gordon et al., J. Neurochem. 55, 506, 1990) Suspension cells stably expressing the Y5 receptor (approximately 400,000 per sample) were resuspended in serum-free DMEM containing 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) and 1 mM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). 1 uM forskolin was added to the cells. The assay was stopped by transferring the samples into a boiling water bath for 3 minutes. After a 3 minute centrifugation at 14,000×g, an aliquot of each sample was quantitated for cAMP levels by radioimmunoassay (NEN DuPont, Mass.).

[0087] Human Y5

[0088] Monolayer cells stably expressing the Y5 receptor were pre-rinsed with Wash buffer (pH 7.2: 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 0.9 mM CaCl₂, 0.5 mM MgCl₂, 6.5 mM Na₂HPO₄, 1.5 mM KH₂PO₄). Cells were then incubated for 10 minutes at 37° C. in Assay buffer (pH 7.4: Wash buffer+10 mM HEPES, 10 mg/ml BSA, 0.5 mg/ml bacitracin, 0.4 mg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor). After addition of fresh buffer and 100 μM IBMX, the cells were incubated for 10 minutes at 37° C. The reaction was started with the addition of peptide and 1-10 μM forskolin. After a 20 minute incubation at 37° C., the reaction was terminated by discarding the buffer and adding 65% ethanol to each well. The supernatant was then transferred to microfuge tubes and the extraction step was repeated once more. After evaporation of the ethanol from the samples, the amount of cAMP was assayed using by radioimmunoassay (NEN DuPont: Boston, Mass.).

[0089] In Vivo Pharmacology Procedures

[0090] Adult male Wistar rats were surgically implanted with a chronic intracerebral ventricular (ICV) cannula (Plastic Products, Roanoke, Va.) using a stereotaxic instrument. Several days after the surgery, 1-6 mmoles of each peptide (or saline) was injected into the lateral ventricle of 4-12 rats in a volume of 5-10 μl. The quantity of rodent chow consumed in a 2 hour period was measured.

[0091] In Vitro and In Vivo Pharmacology Results

[0092]FIG. 1 presents the competition curves of various peptides for [¹²⁵I]PYY binding to Y5 receptor membranes transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. Each point is the average value of triplicate determinations from a representative experiment. IC₅₀ values corresponding to 50% inhibition of specific binding were determined using nonlinear regression analysis. K_(i) values were calculated from the IC₅₀ values using the Cheng-Prusoff correction, such that K_(i)=IC₅₀/(1±(L/K_(d))), where L is the radioligand concentration and K_(d) is the dissociation constant. The results for transiently expressed Y5 clones are presented in Table 1, and Table 2 contains data for stably expressed Y5 clones. TABLE 1 NPY Y5 BINDING AFFINITIES (K_(i) ± SEM, nM) RAT Y555 RAT 6B RAT Y861 HUMAN PEPTIDE Clone* Clone Clone Clone r/hNPY 0.53 ± 0.06 0.49 ± 0.03 0.50 ± 0.06 0.73 ± 0.09 rPYY 1.1 (1.2, 0.95) 0.48 ± 0.09  1.0 ± 0.13  1.3 ± 0.14 h(LP)PYY 2.5 ± 0.5 0.57 ± 0.01  1.8 ± 0.09 1.7 ± 0.3 r/h(LP) 0.96 (1.0, 0.92) 0.31 0.55 ± 0.11 0.97 ± 0.36 NPY p(LP)NPY ND 0.64 ± 0.07 0.47 0.88 ± 0.11 r/h(2-36) 0.81 (0.61, 1) 0.65  1.2 ± 0.07  1.2 ± 0.15 NPY p(3-36) 3.6 ± 0.4  1.9 ± 0.27 2.0 (1.8, 2.3) 10.4 ± 2.0  NPY r/h(3-36) ND 0.49 2.1 (2.7, 1.6)  3.8 ± 0.48 NPY r(3-36) 6.2 ± 1.1  1.4 ± 0.10  4.2 ± 0.47  10 ± 3.4 PYY r/h(10-36) 35 4.9 (6.0, 3.8)  34 ± 2.8 110 (110, 109) NPY p(13-36) 40 (38, 41) 7.7 (7.9, 7.5) 22 (25, 19) 56 ± 7  NPY r(13-36) 73  11 ± 1.0 86 ± 19 77 (89, 65) NPY p(18-36) 303 194 ± 88  206 ± 61  618 ± 85  NPY r/h(20-36) 636 330 ± 31  587 >1000 NPY r/h(22-36) >1000 >1000 >1000 >1000 NPY r/h(26-36) >1000 >1000 >1000 >1000 NPY (1-24) ND >1000 >1000 >1000 NPY BIBP3226 ND >1000 >1000 >1000 hPP ND ND  4.0 ± 0.29 11 (15, 6.2) rPP ND 62 296 ± 47  436 (582, 290)

[0093] TABLE 2 K_(i) Values (nM; Average ± SEM) Peptide 293.hY5.sb.8 293S.Y861.2 rPYY 1.3 ± 0.2 0.71 ± 0.1  hPYY 1.1 ± 0.2 1.06 ± 0.2  (3-36)PYY 4.5 ± 0.7 3.6 ± 0.4 (13-36)PYY  24 ± 2.0 29 ± 4  h(LP)PYY 1.3 ± 0.1 0.76 ± 0.1  r/hNPY 0.79 ± 0.1  0.86 ± 0.07 p(LP)NPY 1.2 ± 0.4 0.67 ± 0.04 h/r(LP)NPY 0.89 ± 0.1  0.67 ± 0.04 (LP)(3-36)NPY 3.1 ± 0.6 2.9 ± 0.9 (2-36)NPY  1.4 ± 0.03 0.83 ± 0.1  h(3-36)NPY 3.5 ± 0.4 1.4 ± 0.4 (10-36)NPY  14 ± 2.7  15 ± 4.7 p(13-36)NPY 8.7 ± 1.6 8.8 ± 2.0 p(18-36)NPY 144 ± 18  61 ± 13 (20-36)NPY 429 ± 133 108 ± 16  (22-36)NPY >900 >930 (26-36)NPY >900 >930 (1-24)NPY >900 >930 (32D-Trp)NPY 7.3 ± 0.8 4.2 ± 1.0 hPP 3.7 ± 1.6 2.5 ± 0.5 rPP 286 ± 77  203 ± 44 

[0094] K_(i) values for various peptides for [¹²⁵I]PYY binding to the transiently expressed rat 6B, Y861 and Y555 receptor clones as well as the human Y5 receptor. The averages±standard error of the mean (SEM) represent values from at least three independent experiments. Two independent experiments are represented by the average, followed by the individual values in parentheses. Remaining values without SEM are from a single experiment. Peptide species in Table 1 (and Table 2, infra) are indicated with the following prefixes: r=rat, h=human, p=porcine, r/h=rat=human. ND=not determined.

[0095] The rank order of the affinities of the peptides tested is as follows:

NPY˜PYY˜(LP)PYY˜(LP)NPY˜(2-36)NPY˜(3-36)PYY˜(LP)(3-36)NPY˜(3-36)NPY>(32D-Trp)NPY>(10-36)NPY˜(13-36)NPY>(18-36)NPY>(20-36)NPY>>(22-36)NPY, (26-36)NPY

[0096] In Table 3, the pharmacological profile of the standard peptides is expanded for the other cloned NPY receptors to further illustrate the novel nature of the Y5 receptor pharmacology. In addition, the in vivo feeding response of some of these peptides is listed for comparison. The data shown are representative of the average of at least two independent experiments, as described in the methods. Feeding of rats injected (ICV) with saline was<3 g/2 hours.

[0097] Table 4 shows the EC₅₀ values for same standard peptides at the rat and human Y5 receptor.

[0098] C-terminal fragment (3-36)NPY binds preferentially to Y2 receptors, while (LP)NPY has lower affinity. Conversely, (LP)NPY has high affinity for the Y1 receptor, while (3-36)NPY and the C-terminal fragments are much weaker. When considering the rat Y4/PP1 receptor, rat PP has very high affinity as compared to NPY, PYY, (LP)NPY, and (13-36)NPY. In the in vivo feeding model, (LP)NPY, which has high affinity for Y1 and low affinity for Y2, and (3-36)NPY, which has a high affinity for Y2, but not Y1, all stimulate feeding in rats. Rat PP does not induce much feeding when administered to rats. This in vivo profile matches the in vitro pharmacological profile outlined in Table 2 for the Y5 receptor.

[0099] In addition, while (LP)(3-36)NPY (a custom peptide synthesized at Bayer) has weak affinity for Y1, Y2 and Y4/PP1, it stimulates feeding in rats. Importantly, (LP)(3-36)NPY has high affinity for the Y5 receptor (Table 2). These data are further evidence that the Y5 receptor is linked to feeding. TABLE 3 IC₅₀ VALUE (nM) Rat Y1 Rat Y2 Rat Y4/PP1 Rat Y5 Feeding PEPTIDE (clone) (clone) (clone) (Y861) (g/2 h) r/hNPY 0.13 0.24 >1000 0.45 >5 rPYY 0.43 0.079 630 0.9 >5 h(Leu³¹ 0.57 116 ND 2.0 >5 Pro³⁴) PYY p(Leu³¹ 0.15 150 4.3 0.63 >5 Pro³⁴)NPY r/h(2-36) 47 0.50 >1000 1.3 >5 NPY p(3-36)NPY 45 0.67 >1000 2.2 >5 r/h(Leu³¹ 44 154 20 3.4 >5 Pro³⁴) (3-36)NPY hPP 40 >1000 0.065 4.9 >5 (32DTrp) >1000 26 ND 7.0 ND NPY r/h(10-36) 148 0.42 >1000 34 <3 NPY rPP 843 >1000 0.071 325 <3 p(18-36) 287 0.34 159 326 <3 NPY (20-36)NPY 435 0.64 ND 638 <3 (22-36)NPY >1000 0.89 ND >1000 <3 (26-36)NPY >1000 84 ND >1000 <3 (1-24)NPY >1000 >1000 ND >1000 <3

[0100] The pharmacological profile for the 6B (and Y861 and Y555) receptor clones is distinct from Y1 receptors (where PYY˜NPY˜(LP)NPY>(3-36)NPY>(13-36)NPY˜(18-36)NPY>(LP)(3-36)NPY), as well as Y2 receptors (where PYY˜NPY˜(13-36)NPY˜(18-36)NPY˜(3-36)NPY>>(LP)NPY˜(LP)(3-36)NPY). The Y5 receptor is also different from the pancreatic polypeptide (PP) receptor (Y4/PP) since [¹²⁵I]PP (rat) does not bind to it.

[0101] Although the rank order of affinities is essentially the same when comparing 6B to Y861 and Y555, subtle differences do exist in the IC₅₀ values. It appears that Y861 and Y555 have slightly lower affinities (approximately 2- to 3-fold) for PYY and other PYY analogs, as compared to 6B. In addition, (10-36)NPY and (13-36) have 2- to 4-fold lower affinity for Y861 and Y555.

[0102] Nonlinear regression analysis of saturation data for the Y5 receptor yielded a K_(d) value of 0.27 nM and a receptor density (B_(max)) of about 140 fmol/mg protein in these transiently transfected cells.

[0103]FIG. 2 presents the saturation curve for specific binding of [¹²⁵I]PYY to Y5 receptor membranes transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. Membranes were incubated with concentrations of [¹²⁵I]PYY ranging from 0.05 to 5 nM, in the presence or absence of 1 μM PYY. Each point represents the average value of triplicate determinations at each concentration tested. The inset in FIG. 2 shows the corresponding Rosenthal plot of the data. TABLE 4 EC₅₀ Values, nM (n Value) Peptide 293S.Y861.2 293.hY5.sb.8 r/hNPY 6.3 ± 1.9 (3)   0.3 (1) rPYY 6.5 (2)  ND r/h(2-36)NPY 21 (2) ND r/h(3-36)NPY ND     6 (1) r/h(LeuPro)(3-36)NPY 31 ± 39 (3) 23 ± 11 (3) (32D-Trp)NPY 24 (1)    33 (1) hPP  1 (1)     5 (1) rPP 112 (1)  >1000 (1)

Example 5 Isolation of Human Y5 Receptor

[0104] Isolation of Human Genomic Clone

[0105] Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 375 base pair (bp) coding region of the rat Y5 cDNA clone. The primers for the PCR were:

[0106] (+) 5′-TAGGGAACCTGGCCTCCTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO 5) (nucleotides 487-506),

[0107] (−) 5′-TCAGAGGGCCATGACTCAAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO 6) (nucleotides 843-862).

[0108] The PCR product was cloned into pCRII vector (Invitrogen) and sequenced. After confirmation by sequencing, the insert was purified from the low melting gel and labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP using the random primed method (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.). The labeled probe was used to screen human genomic library.

[0109] 1×10⁶ independent recombinants were screened from the library. Filter hybridization was carried out in the hybridization buffer containing 6×SSC, 0.1% N-lauroylsarcosine, 0.02% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 3% blocking reagent (Boehringer Mannheim) and 30% formamide at 37° C. overnight. The filters were washed at 37° C. in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS and the positive clones were identified by CSPD detection kit according to the manufacturer's protocol (Boehringer Mannheim).

[0110] Two positive clones (HG11A and HG19) were isolated from the library. The positive clones were subcloned into pBluescript vector (Stratagene). One clone, h11a, was analyzed by restriction mapping and plasmid Southern blot. Two EcoRV fragments, 2.4 kb and 0.4 kb, were hybridized by the rat Y5 probe. These two DNA fragments were subcloned and sequenced from both ends. DNA sequence analysis was performed using GCG program. The coding region of the human Y5 genomic clone was identified by DNA sequence analysis. This region was amplified by PCR using genomic clone h11A as template and subcloned into pcDNA3 expression vector (Invitrogen) for further studies. The h11A clone has the nucleic acid coding sequence given by SEQ ID NO 5 and the protein that it encodes has the amino acid sequence given by SEQ ID NO 6.

[0111] The human Y5 DNA coding region was used to search the sequence similarities in the gene bank. The Y5 coding sequence from nucleotide 821 to the stop codon at position 1338 is nearly identical, but in an opposite orientation, to part of the human NPY-Y1 gene (Ball et al, J. Biol. Chem. 270, 30102 (1995)). The identical sequence covered the 1C exon promoter, exon 1C, and part of the intron sequences of the NPY-Y1 receptor in an opposite orientation. Compared to the published nucleotide sequence, the Y5 coding region has a T insertion at position 1226 and a TG insertion at positions 1235 and 1236.

1 8 2481 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA NO NO CDS 248..1582 1 GAATTCTTGG ACTATGGGGG CCGGGAACAG GCGATCTTGA GCCGGGTGTC CGGGGTCTCA 60 GGGACTGTCA CGTGTTCCCG AGGTGCTTCT AAAACCCTGG CGGCTCCGGA GCCCCTCCTT 120 CCCACCACCG CCTCCAGGTC CTGCTCCTGC CGCCACCGCT TCCATCTGGA GCAGAAGCGA 180 CCGCGCTCAG CCACGTACCC CGGAGTCCAG GCACCCGCAG CGGCCGGGGC ATCCCGAGGA 240 TTTTAGT ATG GAG TTT AAG CTT GAG GAG CAT TTT AAC AAG ACA TTT GTC 289 Met Glu Phe Lys Leu Glu Glu His Phe Asn Lys Thr Phe Val 1 5 10 ACA GAG AAC AAT ACA GCT GCT GCT CGG AAT GCA GCC TTC CCT GCC TGG 337 Thr Glu Asn Asn Thr Ala Ala Ala Arg Asn Ala Ala Phe Pro Ala Trp 15 20 25 30 GAG GAC TAC AGA GGC AGC GTA GAC GAT TTA CAA TAC TTT CTG ATT GGG 385 Glu Asp Tyr Arg Gly Ser Val Asp Asp Leu Gln Tyr Phe Leu Ile Gly 35 40 45 CTC TAT ACA TTC GTA AGT CTT CTT GGC TTT ATG GGC AAT CTA CCT ATT 433 Leu Tyr Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Leu Gly Phe Met Gly Asn Leu Pro Ile 50 55 60 TTA ATG GCT GTT ATG AAA AAG CGC AAT CAG AAG ACT ACA GTG AAC TTT 481 Leu Met Ala Val Met Lys Lys Arg Asn Gln Lys Thr Thr Val Asn Phe 65 70 75 CTC ATA GGC AAC CTG GCC TTC TCC GAC ATC TTG GTC GTC CTG TTT TGC 529 Leu Ile Gly Asn Leu Ala Phe Ser Asp Ile Leu Val Val Leu Phe Cys 80 85 90 TCC CCT TTC ACC CTG ACC TCT GTC TTG TTG GAT CAG TGG ATG TTT GGC 577 Ser Pro Phe Thr Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Leu Asp Gln Trp Met Phe Gly 95 100 105 110 AAA GCC ATG TGC CAT ATC ATG CCG TTC CTT CAA TGT GTG TCA GTT CTG 625 Lys Ala Met Cys His Ile Met Pro Phe Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Val Leu 115 120 125 GTT TCA ACT CTG ATT TTA ATA TCA ATT GCC ATT GTC AGG TAT CAT ATG 673 Val Ser Thr Leu Ile Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Arg Tyr His Met 130 135 140 ATA AAG CAC CCT ATT TCT AAC AAT TTA ACG GCA AAC CAT GGC TAC TTC 721 Ile Lys His Pro Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Ala Asn His Gly Tyr Phe 145 150 155 CTG ATA GCT ACT GTC TGG ACA CTG GGC TTT GCC ATC TGT TCT CCC CTC 769 Leu Ile Ala Thr Val Trp Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Ile Cys Ser Pro Leu 160 165 170 CCA GTG TTT CAC AGT CTT GTG GAA CTT AAG GAG ACC TTT GGC TCA GCA 817 Pro Val Phe His Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Lys Glu Thr Phe Gly Ser Ala 175 180 185 190 CTG CTG AGT AGC AAA TAT CTC TGT GTT GAG TCA TGG CCC TCT GAT TCA 865 Leu Leu Ser Ser Lys Tyr Leu Cys Val Glu Ser Trp Pro Ser Asp Ser 195 200 205 TAC AGA ATT GCT TTC ACA ATC TCT TTA TTG CTA GTG CAG TAT ATC CTG 913 Tyr Arg Ile Ala Phe Thr Ile Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Gln Tyr Ile Leu 210 215 220 CCT CTA GTA TGT TTA ACG GTA AGT CAT ACC AGC GTC TGC CGA AGC ATA 961 Pro Leu Val Cys Leu Thr Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Cys Arg Ser Ile 225 230 235 AGC TGT GGA TTG TCC CAC AAA GAA AAC AGA CTC GAA GAA AAT GAG ATG 1009 Ser Cys Gly Leu Ser His Lys Glu Asn Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Glu Met 240 245 250 ATC AAC TTA ACC CTA CAG CCA TCC AAA AAG AGC AGG AAC CAG GCA AAA 1057 Ile Asn Leu Thr Leu Gln Pro Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg Asn Gln Ala Lys 255 260 265 270 ACC CCC AGC ACT CAA AAG TGG AGC TAC TCA TTC ATC AGA AAG CAC AGA 1105 Thr Pro Ser Thr Gln Lys Trp Ser Tyr Ser Phe Ile Arg Lys His Arg 275 280 285 AGG AGG TAC AGC AAG AAG ACG GCC TGT GTC TTA CCC GCC CCA GCA GGA 1153 Arg Arg Tyr Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala Cys Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Ala Gly 290 295 300 CCT TCC CAG GGG AAG CAC CTA GCC GTT CCA GAA AAT CCA GCC TCC GTC 1201 Pro Ser Gln Gly Lys His Leu Ala Val Pro Glu Asn Pro Ala Ser Val 305 310 315 CGT AGC CAG CTG TCG CCA TCC AGT AAG GTC ATT CCA GGG GTC CCA ATC 1249 Arg Ser Gln Leu Ser Pro Ser Ser Lys Val Ile Pro Gly Val Pro Ile 320 325 330 TGC TTT GAG GTG AAA CCT GAA GAA AGC TCA GAT GCT CAT GAG ATG AGA 1297 Cys Phe Glu Val Lys Pro Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp Ala His Glu Met Arg 335 340 345 350 GTC AAG CGT TCC ATC ACT AGA ATA AAA AAG AGA TCT CGA AGT GTT TTC 1345 Val Lys Arg Ser Ile Thr Arg Ile Lys Lys Arg Ser Arg Ser Val Phe 355 360 365 TAC AGA CTG ACC ATA CTG ATA CTC GTG TTC GCC GTT AGC TGG ATG CCA 1393 Tyr Arg Leu Thr Ile Leu Ile Leu Val Phe Ala Val Ser Trp Met Pro 370 375 380 CTC CAC GTC TTC CAC GTG GTG ACT GAC TTC AAT GAT AAC TTG ATT TCC 1441 Leu His Val Phe His Val Val Thr Asp Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Ile Ser 385 390 395 AAT AGG CAT TTC AAG CTG GTA TAC TGC ATC TGT CAC TTG TTA GGC ATG 1489 Asn Arg His Phe Lys Leu Val Tyr Cys Ile Cys His Leu Leu Gly Met 400 405 410 ATG TCC TGT TGT CTA AAT CCG ATC CTA TAT GGT TTC CTT AAT AAT GGT 1537 Met Ser Cys Cys Leu Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Asn Asn Gly 415 420 425 430 ATC AAA GCA GAC TTG AGA GCC CTT ATC CAC TGC CTA CAC ATG TCA TGA 1582 Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Arg Ala Leu Ile His Cys Leu His Met Ser * 435 440 445 TGATTCTCTC TGTGCACCAA AGAGAGAAGA AACGTGGTAA TTGACACATA ATTTATAC 1642 AAGTATTCTG GATCTGAATG CCAGTTCGTA ATCTACGTAA GATCATCTTC ATGTTATA 1702 ATGGTTAATT CAATCAGTTG TGCAGAGTCA ATGTCCATCT AATACAATTT CATGTGTT 1762 AGTAGTTTAC ATTATTTTCC ATTTTATGTC ATTGGTAATA AGTTGAGTGA TACTCTGT 1822 TTTAGTGTAA AAGATATAGC TATCCAAATT GTTACGTTGT ACAAAAAATG TATGAAGT 1882 CAAGTTGTCC CAAAGAGCAT TTAACTACAG ATTTAAGGAA TTTCTATTAT CTGGGTAT 1942 TCATTTCTAT TTCACAGGCT TCTTAACATT TTTTTGTAAA AGTACAAAAA TATTCAAA 2002 TCAGAACTCT ATTACAGATG TATGCATAAA AGATGATTAT AATTTTGTAG GAGAAAGA 2062 TGCTCCTATT AGTGAAGATT GGTAAAATTG TCAGTTTAAC CCGGCTGTCC TACTACTA 2122 ATTTAATTTT TCAAATATGA AAAGGTTTCA GATTTTGTTT AGATTTATAT CACATTAA 2182 ACTGTCAAAT AAAGGCTGTT TTTATATGCA TCGTTGATGT TCCAAAATGT GAAGTCTA 2242 TGGTGTCTGT ATTTCCAATT ATTAAATAAC TTCTAAGATC ATTTTTAAAA GTCTGTAG 2302 GGTATGGATA GCTAGTTGTT TGTTAATATA AAGTAAAAGT AGATAGCTGA TTTATGTT 2362 ACCTATGTCG TATGTATATT AGGTATCGTG TTGTCTCACT AAAGTGAAAG CAAACGAA 2422 AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA 2481 445 amino acids amino acid linear protein 2 Met Glu Phe Lys Leu Glu Glu His Phe Asn Lys Thr Phe Val Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 Asn Asn Thr Ala Ala Ala Arg Asn Ala Ala Phe Pro Ala Trp Glu Asp 20 25 30 Tyr Arg Gly Ser Val Asp Asp Leu Gln Tyr Phe Leu Ile Gly Leu Tyr 35 40 45 Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Leu Gly Phe Met Gly Asn Leu Pro Ile Leu Met 50 55 60 Ala Val Met Lys Lys Arg Asn Gln Lys Thr Thr Val Asn Phe Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 Gly Asn Leu Ala Phe Ser Asp Ile Leu Val Val Leu Phe Cys Ser Pro 85 90 95 Phe Thr Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Leu Asp Gln Trp Met Phe Gly Lys Ala 100 105 110 Met Cys His Ile Met Pro Phe Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Val Leu Val Ser 115 120 125 Thr Leu Ile Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Arg Tyr His Met Ile Lys 130 135 140 His Pro Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Ala Asn His Gly Tyr Phe Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 Ala Thr Val Trp Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Ile Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro Val 165 170 175 Phe His Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Lys Glu Thr Phe Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu 180 185 190 Ser Ser Lys Tyr Leu Cys Val Glu Ser Trp Pro Ser Asp Ser Tyr Arg 195 200 205 Ile Ala Phe Thr Ile Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Gln Tyr Ile Leu Pro Leu 210 215 220 Val Cys Leu Thr Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Cys Arg Ser Ile Ser Cys 225 230 235 240 Gly Leu Ser His Lys Glu Asn Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Glu Met Ile Asn 245 250 255 Leu Thr Leu Gln Pro Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg Asn Gln Ala Lys Thr Pro 260 265 270 Ser Thr Gln Lys Trp Ser Tyr Ser Phe Ile Arg Lys His Arg Arg Arg 275 280 285 Tyr Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala Cys Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Ala Gly Pro Ser 290 295 300 Gln Gly Lys His Leu Ala Val Pro Glu Asn Pro Ala Ser Val Arg Ser 305 310 315 320 Gln Leu Ser Pro Ser Ser Lys Val Ile Pro Gly Val Pro Ile Cys Phe 325 330 335 Glu Val Lys Pro Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp Ala His Glu Met Arg Val Lys 340 345 350 Arg Ser Ile Thr Arg Ile Lys Lys Arg Ser Arg Ser Val Phe Tyr Arg 355 360 365 Leu Thr Ile Leu Ile Leu Val Phe Ala Val Ser Trp Met Pro Leu His 370 375 380 Val Phe His Val Val Thr Asp Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Ile Ser Asn Arg 385 390 395 400 His Phe Lys Leu Val Tyr Cys Ile Cys His Leu Leu Gly Met Met Ser 405 410 415 Cys Cys Leu Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Asn Asn Gly Ile Lys 420 425 430 Ala Asp Leu Arg Ala Leu Ile His Cys Leu His Met Ser 435 440 445 2604 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA NO NO CDS 371..1705 3 GAATTCTTGG ACTATGGGGG CCGGGAACAG GCGATCTTGA GCCGGGTGTC CGGGGTCTCA 60 GGGACTGTCA CGTGTTCCCG AGGTGCTTCT AAAACCCTGG CGGCTCCGGA GCCCCTCCTT 120 CCCACCACCG CCTCCAGGTC CTGCTCCTGC CGCCACCGCT TCCATCTGGA GCAGAAGCGA 180 CCGCGCTCAG CCACGTACCC CGGAGTCCAG GCACCCGCAG CGGCCGGGGC ATCCCGAGCT 240 GGCCATACAC CGGGAGACAG CTGTGCCCTT GGGTTTGCAA GGTGGCTTGG AAGTCAACTG 300 CCAGTAGGAA ATAGCCATCC ACACACCTGA GTTCCAAGGG GGAAGAAAGA GATTCTTATC 360 TGATTTTAGT ATG GAG TTT AAG CTT GAG GAG CAT TTT AAC AAG ACA TTT 409 Met Glu Phe Lys Leu Glu Glu His Phe Asn Lys Thr Phe 5 10 GTC ACA GAG AAC AAT ACA GCT GCT GCT CGG AAT GCA GCC TTC CCT GCC 457 Val Thr Glu Asn Asn Thr Ala Ala Ala Arg Asn Ala Ala Phe Pro Ala 15 20 25 TGG GAG GAC TAC AGA GGC AGC GTA GAC GAT TTA CAA TAC TTT CTG ATT 505 Trp Glu Asp Tyr Arg Gly Ser Val Asp Asp Leu Gln Tyr Phe Leu Ile 30 35 40 45 GGG CTC TAT ACA TTC GTA AGT CTT CTT GGC TTT ATG GGC AAT CTA CTT 553 Gly Leu Tyr Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Leu Gly Phe Met Gly Asn Leu Leu 50 55 60 ATT TTA ATG GCT GTT ATG AAA AAG CGC AAT CAG AAG ACT ACA GTG AAC 601 Ile Leu Met Ala Val Met Lys Lys Arg Asn Gln Lys Thr Thr Val Asn 65 70 75 TTT CTC ATA GGC AAC CTG GCC TTC TCC GAC ATC TTG GTC GTC CTG TTT 649 Phe Leu Ile Gly Asn Leu Ala Phe Ser Asp Ile Leu Val Val Leu Phe 80 85 90 TGC TCC CCT TTC ACC CTG ACC TCT GTC TTG TTG GAT CAG TGG ATG TTT 697 Cys Ser Pro Phe Thr Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Leu Asp Gln Trp Met Phe 95 100 105 GGC AAA GCC ATG TGC CAT ATC ATG CCG TTC CTT CAA TGT GTG TCA GTT 745 Gly Lys Ala Met Cys His Ile Met Pro Phe Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Val 110 115 120 125 CTG GTT TCA ACT CTG ATT TTA ATA TCA ATT GCC ATT GTC AGG TAT CAT 793 Leu Val Ser Thr Leu Ile Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Arg Tyr His 130 135 140 ATG ATA AAG CAC CCT ATT TCT AAC AAT TTA ACG GCA AAC CAT GGC TAC 841 Met Ile Lys His Pro Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Ala Asn His Gly Tyr 145 150 155 TTC CTG ATA GCT ACT GTC TGG ACA CTG GGC TTT GCC ATC TGT TCT CCC 889 Phe Leu Ile Ala Thr Val Trp Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Ile Cys Ser Pro 160 165 170 CTC CCA GTG TTT CAC AGT CTT GTG GAA CTT AAG GAG ACC TTT GGC TCA 937 Leu Pro Val Phe His Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Lys Glu Thr Phe Gly Ser 175 180 185 GCA CTG CTG AGT AGC AAA TAT CTC TGT GTT GAG TCA TGG CCC TCT GAT 985 Ala Leu Leu Ser Ser Lys Tyr Leu Cys Val Glu Ser Trp Pro Ser Asp 190 195 200 205 TCA TAC AGA ATT GCT TTC ACA ATC TCT TTA TTG CTA GTG CAG TAT ATC 1033 Ser Tyr Arg Ile Ala Phe Thr Ile Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Gln Tyr Ile 210 215 220 CTG CCT CTA GTA TGT TTA ACG GTA AGT CAT ACC AGC GTC TGC CGA AGC 1081 Leu Pro Leu Val Cys Leu Thr Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Cys Arg Ser 225 230 235 ATA AGC TGT GGA TTG TCC CAC AAA GAA AAC AGA CTC GAA GAA AAT GAG 1129 Ile Ser Cys Gly Leu Ser His Lys Glu Asn Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Glu 240 245 250 ATG ATC AAC TTA ACC CTA CAG CCA TCC AAA AAG AGC AGG AAC CAG GCA 1177 Met Ile Asn Leu Thr Leu Gln Pro Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg Asn Gln Ala 255 260 265 AAA ACC CCC AGC ACT CAA AAG TGG AGC TAC TCA TTC ATC AGA AAG CAC 1225 Lys Thr Pro Ser Thr Gln Lys Trp Ser Tyr Ser Phe Ile Arg Lys His 270 275 280 285 AGA AGG AGG TAC AGC AAG AAG ACG GCC TGT GTC TTA CCC GCC CCA GCA 1273 Arg Arg Arg Tyr Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala Cys Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Ala 290 295 300 GGA CCT TCC CAG GGG AAG CAC CTA GCC GTT CCA GAA AAT CCA GCC TCC 1321 Gly Pro Ser Gln Gly Lys His Leu Ala Val Pro Glu Asn Pro Ala Ser 305 310 315 GTC CGT AGC CAG CTG TCG CCA TCC AGT AAG GTC ATT CCA GGG GTC CCA 1369 Val Arg Ser Gln Leu Ser Pro Ser Ser Lys Val Ile Pro Gly Val Pro 320 325 330 ATC TGC TTT GAG GTG AAA CCT GAA GAA AGC TCA GAT GCT CAT GAG ATG 1417 Ile Cys Phe Glu Val Lys Pro Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp Ala His Glu Met 335 340 345 AGA GTC AAG CGT TCC ATC ACT AGA ATA AAA AAG AGA TCT CGA AGT GTT 1465 Arg Val Lys Arg Ser Ile Thr Arg Ile Lys Lys Arg Ser Arg Ser Val 350 355 360 365 TTC TAC AGA CTG ACC ATA CTG ATA CTC GTG TTC GCC GTT AGC TGG ATG 1513 Phe Tyr Arg Leu Thr Ile Leu Ile Leu Val Phe Ala Val Ser Trp Met 370 375 380 CCA CTC CAC GTC TTC CAC GTG GTG ACT GAC TTC AAT GAT AAC TTG ATT 1561 Pro Leu His Val Phe His Val Val Thr Asp Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Ile 385 390 395 TCC AAT AGG CAT TTC AAG CTG GTA TAC TGC ATC TGT CAC TTG TTA GGC 1609 Ser Asn Arg His Phe Lys Leu Val Tyr Cys Ile Cys His Leu Leu Gly 400 405 410 ATG ATG TCC TGT TGT CTA AAT CCG ATC CTA TAT GGT TTC CTT AAT AAT 1657 Met Met Ser Cys Cys Leu Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Asn Asn 415 420 425 GGT ATC AAA GCA GAC TTG AGA GCC CTT ATC CAC TGC CTA CAC ATG TCA 1705 Gly Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Arg Ala Leu Ile His Cys Leu His Met Ser 430 435 440 445 TGATTCTCTC TGTGCACCAA AGAGAGAAGA AACGTGGTAA TTGACACATA ATTTATAC 1765 AAGTATTCTG GATCTGAATG CCAGTTCGTA ATCTACGTAA GATCATCTTC ATGTTATA 1825 ATGGTTAATT CAATCAGTTG TGCAGAGTCA ATGTCCATCT AATACAATTT CATGTGTT 1885 AGTAGTTTAC ATTATTTTCC ATTTTATGTC ATTGGTAATA AGTTGAGTGA TACTCTGT 1945 TTTAGTGTAA AAGATATAGC TATCCAAATT GTTACGTTGT ACAAAAAATG TATGAAGT 2005 CAAGTTGTCC CAAAGAGCAT TTAACTACAG ATTTAAGGAA TTTCTATTAT CTGGGTAT 2065 TCATTTCTAT TTCACAGGCT TCTTAACATT TTTTTGTAAA AGTACAAAAA TATTCAAA 2125 TCAGAACTCT ATTACAGATG TATGCATAAA AGATGATTAT AATTTTGTAG GAGAAAGA 2185 TGCTCCTATT AGTGAAGATT GGTAAAATTG TCAGTTTAAC CCGGCTGTCC TACTACTA 2245 ATTTAATTTT TCAAATATGA AAAGGTTTCA GATTTTGTTT AGATTTATAT CACATTAA 2305 ACTGTCAAAT AAAGGCTGTT TTTATATGCA TCGTTGATGT TCCAAAATGT GAAGTCTA 2365 TGGTGTCTGT ATTTCCAATT ATTAAATAAC TTCTAAGATC ATTTTTAAAA GTCTGTAG 2425 GGTATGGATA GCTAGTTGTT TGTTAATATA AAGTAAAAGT AGATAGCTGA TTTATGTT 2485 ACCTATGTCG TATGTATATT AGGTATCGTG TTGTCTCACT AAAGTGAAAG CAAACGAA 2545 AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA 2604 445 amino acids amino acid linear protein 4 Met Glu Phe Lys Leu Glu Glu His Phe Asn Lys Thr Phe Val Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 Asn Asn Thr Ala Ala Ala Arg Asn Ala Ala Phe Pro Ala Trp Glu Asp 20 25 30 Tyr Arg Gly Ser Val Asp Asp Leu Gln Tyr Phe Leu Ile Gly Leu Tyr 35 40 45 Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Leu Gly Phe Met Gly Asn Leu Leu Ile Leu Met 50 55 60 Ala Val Met Lys Lys Arg Asn Gln Lys Thr Thr Val Asn Phe Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 Gly Asn Leu Ala Phe Ser Asp Ile Leu Val Val Leu Phe Cys Ser Pro 85 90 95 Phe Thr Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Leu Asp Gln Trp Met Phe Gly Lys Ala 100 105 110 Met Cys His Ile Met Pro Phe Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Val Leu Val Ser 115 120 125 Thr Leu Ile Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Arg Tyr His Met Ile Lys 130 135 140 His Pro Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Ala Asn His Gly Tyr Phe Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 Ala Thr Val Trp Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Ile Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro Val 165 170 175 Phe His Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Lys Glu Thr Phe Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu 180 185 190 Ser Ser Lys Tyr Leu Cys Val Glu Ser Trp Pro Ser Asp Ser Tyr Arg 195 200 205 Ile Ala Phe Thr Ile Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Gln Tyr Ile Leu Pro Leu 210 215 220 Val Cys Leu Thr Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Cys Arg Ser Ile Ser Cys 225 230 235 240 Gly Leu Ser His Lys Glu Asn Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Glu Met Ile Asn 245 250 255 Leu Thr Leu Gln Pro Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg Asn Gln Ala Lys Thr Pro 260 265 270 Ser Thr Gln Lys Trp Ser Tyr Ser Phe Ile Arg Lys His Arg Arg Arg 275 280 285 Tyr Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala Cys Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Ala Gly Pro Ser 290 295 300 Gln Gly Lys His Leu Ala Val Pro Glu Asn Pro Ala Ser Val Arg Ser 305 310 315 320 Gln Leu Ser Pro Ser Ser Lys Val Ile Pro Gly Val Pro Ile Cys Phe 325 330 335 Glu Val Lys Pro Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp Ala His Glu Met Arg Val Lys 340 345 350 Arg Ser Ile Thr Arg Ile Lys Lys Arg Ser Arg Ser Val Phe Tyr Arg 355 360 365 Leu Thr Ile Leu Ile Leu Val Phe Ala Val Ser Trp Met Pro Leu His 370 375 380 Val Phe His Val Val Thr Asp Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Ile Ser Asn Arg 385 390 395 400 His Phe Lys Leu Val Tyr Cys Ile Cys His Leu Leu Gly Met Met Ser 405 410 415 Cys Cys Leu Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Asn Asn Gly Ile Lys 420 425 430 Ala Asp Leu Arg Ala Leu Ile His Cys Leu His Met Ser 435 440 445 1338 base pairs nucleic acid single linear cDNA NO NO CDS 1..1335 5 ATG GAT TTA GAG CTC GAC GAG TAT TAT AAC AAG ACA CTT GCC ACA GAG 48 Met Asp Leu Glu Leu Asp Glu Tyr Tyr Asn Lys Thr Leu Ala Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 AAT AAT ACT GCT GCC ACT CGG AAT TCT GAT TTC CCA GTC TGG GAT GAC 96 Asn Asn Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Asn Ser Asp Phe Pro Val Trp Asp Asp 20 25 30 TAT AAA AGC AGT GTA GAT GAC TTA CAG TAT TTT CTG ATT GGG CTC TAT 144 Tyr Lys Ser Ser Val Asp Asp Leu Gln Tyr Phe Leu Ile Gly Leu Tyr 35 40 45 ACA TTT GTA AGT CTT CTT GGC TTT ATG GGG AAT CTA CTT ATT TTA ATG 192 Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Leu Gly Phe Met Gly Asn Leu Leu Ile Leu Met 50 55 60 GCT CTC ATG AAA AAG CGT AAT CAG AAG ACT ACG GTA AAC TTC CTC ATA 240 Ala Leu Met Lys Lys Arg Asn Gln Lys Thr Thr Val Asn Phe Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 GGC AAT CTG GCC TTT TCT GAT ATC TTG GTT GTG CTG TTT TGC TCA CCT 288 Gly Asn Leu Ala Phe Ser Asp Ile Leu Val Val Leu Phe Cys Ser Pro 85 90 95 TTC ACA CTG ACG TCT GTC TTG CTG GAT CAG TGG ATG TTT GGC AAA GTC 336 Phe Thr Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Leu Asp Gln Trp Met Phe Gly Lys Val 100 105 110 ATG TGC CAT ATT ATG CCT TTT CTT CAA TGT GTG TCA GTT TTG GTT TCA 384 Met Cys His Ile Met Pro Phe Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Val Leu Val Ser 115 120 125 ACT TTA ATT TTA ATA TCA ATT GCC ATT GTC AGG TAT CAT ATG ATA AAA 432 Thr Leu Ile Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Arg Tyr His Met Ile Lys 130 135 140 CAT CCC ATA TCT AAT AAT TTA ACA GCA AAC CAT GGC TAC TTT CTG ATA 480 His Pro Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Ala Asn His Gly Tyr Phe Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 GCT ACT GTC TGG ACA CTA GGT TTT GCC ATC TGT TCT CCC CTT CCA GTG 528 Ala Thr Val Trp Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Ile Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro Val 165 170 175 TTT CAC AGT CTT GTG GAA CTT CAA GAA ACA TTT GGT TCA GCA TTG CTG 576 Phe His Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Gln Glu Thr Phe Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu 180 185 190 AGC AGC AGG TAT TTA TGT GTT GAG TCA TGG CCA TCT GAT TCA TAC AGA 624 Ser Ser Arg Tyr Leu Cys Val Glu Ser Trp Pro Ser Asp Ser Tyr Arg 195 200 205 ATT GCC TTT ACT ATC TCT TTA TTG CTA GTT CAG TAT ATT CTG CCC TTA 672 Ile Ala Phe Thr Ile Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Gln Tyr Ile Leu Pro Leu 210 215 220 GTT TGT CTT ACT GTA AGT CAT ACA AGT GTC TGC AGA AGT ATA AGC TGT 720 Val Cys Leu Thr Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Cys Arg Ser Ile Ser Cys 225 230 235 240 GGA TTG TCC AAC AAA GAA AAC AGA CTT GAA GAA AAT GAG ATG ATC AAC 768 Gly Leu Ser Asn Lys Glu Asn Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Glu Met Ile Asn 245 250 255 TTA ACT CTT CAT CCA TCC AAA AAG AGT GGG CCT CAG GTG AAA CTC TCT 816 Leu Thr Leu His Pro Ser Lys Lys Ser Gly Pro Gln Val Lys Leu Ser 260 265 270 GGC AGC CAT AAA TGG AGT TAT TCA TTC ATC AAA AAA CAC AGA AGA AGA 864 Gly Ser His Lys Trp Ser Tyr Ser Phe Ile Lys Lys His Arg Arg Arg 275 280 285 TAT AGC AAG AAG ACA GCA TGT GTG TTA CCT GCT CCA GAA AGA CCT TCT 912 Tyr Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala Cys Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Glu Arg Pro Ser 290 295 300 CAA GAG AAC CAC TCC AGA ATA CTT CCA GAA AAC TTT GGC TCT GTA AGA 960 Gln Glu Asn His Ser Arg Ile Leu Pro Glu Asn Phe Gly Ser Val Arg 305 310 315 320 AGT CAG CTC TCT TCA TCC AGT AAG TTC ATA CCA GGG GTC CCC ACT TGC 1008 Ser Gln Leu Ser Ser Ser Ser Lys Phe Ile Pro Gly Val Pro Thr Cys 325 330 335 TTT GAG ATA AAA CCT GAA GAA AAT TCA GAT GTT CAT GAA TTG AGA GTA 1056 Phe Glu Ile Lys Pro Glu Glu Asn Ser Asp Val His Glu Leu Arg Val 340 345 350 AAA CGT TCT GTT ACA AGA ATA AAA AAG AGA TCT CGA AGT GTT TTC TAC 1104 Lys Arg Ser Val Thr Arg Ile Lys Lys Arg Ser Arg Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 AGA CTG ACC ATA CTG ATA TTA GTA TTT GCT GTT AGT TGG ATG CCA CTA 1152 Arg Leu Thr Ile Leu Ile Leu Val Phe Ala Val Ser Trp Met Pro Leu 370 375 380 CAC CTT TTC CAT GTG GTA ACT GAT TTT AAT GAC AAT CTT ATT TCA AAT 1200 His Leu Phe His Val Val Thr Asp Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Ile Ser Asn 385 390 395 400 AGG CAT TTC AAG TTG GTG TAT TGC ATT TGT CAT TTG TTG GGC ATG ATG 1248 Arg His Phe Lys Leu Val Tyr Cys Ile Cys His Leu Leu Gly Met Met 405 410 415 TCC TGT TGT CTT AAT CCA ATT CTA TAT GGG TTT CTT AAT AAT GGG ATT 1296 Ser Cys Cys Leu Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Asn Asn Gly Ile 420 425 430 AAA GCT GAT TTA GTG TCC CTT ATA CAC TGT CTT CAT ATG TAA 1338 Lys Ala Asp Leu Val Ser Leu Ile His Cys Leu His Met 435 440 445 445 amino acids amino acid linear protein 6 Met Asp Leu Glu Leu Asp Glu Tyr Tyr Asn Lys Thr Leu Ala Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 Asn Asn Thr Ala Ala Thr Arg Asn Ser Asp Phe Pro Val Trp Asp Asp 20 25 30 Tyr Lys Ser Ser Val Asp Asp Leu Gln Tyr Phe Leu Ile Gly Leu Tyr 35 40 45 Thr Phe Val Ser Leu Leu Gly Phe Met Gly Asn Leu Leu Ile Leu Met 50 55 60 Ala Leu Met Lys Lys Arg Asn Gln Lys Thr Thr Val Asn Phe Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 Gly Asn Leu Ala Phe Ser Asp Ile Leu Val Val Leu Phe Cys Ser Pro 85 90 95 Phe Thr Leu Thr Ser Val Leu Leu Asp Gln Trp Met Phe Gly Lys Val 100 105 110 Met Cys His Ile Met Pro Phe Leu Gln Cys Val Ser Val Leu Val Ser 115 120 125 Thr Leu Ile Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Ile Val Arg Tyr His Met Ile Lys 130 135 140 His Pro Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Thr Ala Asn His Gly Tyr Phe Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 Ala Thr Val Trp Thr Leu Gly Phe Ala Ile Cys Ser Pro Leu Pro Val 165 170 175 Phe His Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Gln Glu Thr Phe Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu 180 185 190 Ser Ser Arg Tyr Leu Cys Val Glu Ser Trp Pro Ser Asp Ser Tyr Arg 195 200 205 Ile Ala Phe Thr Ile Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Gln Tyr Ile Leu Pro Leu 210 215 220 Val Cys Leu Thr Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Cys Arg Ser Ile Ser Cys 225 230 235 240 Gly Leu Ser Asn Lys Glu Asn Arg Leu Glu Glu Asn Glu Met Ile Asn 245 250 255 Leu Thr Leu His Pro Ser Lys Lys Ser Gly Pro Gln Val Lys Leu Ser 260 265 270 Gly Ser His Lys Trp Ser Tyr Ser Phe Ile Lys Lys His Arg Arg Arg 275 280 285 Tyr Ser Lys Lys Thr Ala Cys Val Leu Pro Ala Pro Glu Arg Pro Ser 290 295 300 Gln Glu Asn His Ser Arg Ile Leu Pro Glu Asn Phe Gly Ser Val Arg 305 310 315 320 Ser Gln Leu Ser Ser Ser Ser Lys Phe Ile Pro Gly Val Pro Thr Cys 325 330 335 Phe Glu Ile Lys Pro Glu Glu Asn Ser Asp Val His Glu Leu Arg Val 340 345 350 Lys Arg Ser Val Thr Arg Ile Lys Lys Arg Ser Arg Ser Val Phe Tyr 355 360 365 Arg Leu Thr Ile Leu Ile Leu Val Phe Ala Val Ser Trp Met Pro Leu 370 375 380 His Leu Phe His Val Val Thr Asp Phe Asn Asp Asn Leu Ile Ser Asn 385 390 395 400 Arg His Phe Lys Leu Val Tyr Cys Ile Cys His Leu Leu Gly Met Met 405 410 415 Ser Cys Cys Leu Asn Pro Ile Leu Tyr Gly Phe Leu Asn Asn Gly Ile 420 425 430 Lys Ala Asp Leu Val Ser Leu Ile His Cys Leu His Met 435 440 445 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid 7 TAGGGAACCT GGCCTCCTCC 20 20 base pairs nucleic acid single linear other nucleic acid 8 TCAGAGGGCC ATGACTCAAC 20 

We claim:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid encoding a neuropeptide Y receptor comprising a molecule having a nucleotide sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, or SEQ ID NO
 5. 2. A homogenous composition of the neuropeptide Y receptor comprising a molecule having an amino acid sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, or SEQ ID NO
 6. 3. A vector comprising the nucleic acid according to claim
 1. 4. A vector according to claim 3 adapted for expression in a cell further comprising regulatory elements necessary for expression of the nucleic acid operatively linked to the nucleic acid to enable expression of the nucleic acid.
 5. A vector according to claim 4 wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.
 6. A vector according to claim 5 wherein the cell is a human 293 cell.
 7. A vector according to claim 4 that is a plasmid.
 8. A vector according to claim 7 wherein the plasmid is the pBluescript plasmid.
 9. A vector according to claim 7 wherein the plasmid is the pcDNA3 plasmid.
 10. A vector according to claim 3 which is self-replicating.
 11. A cell transformed with the nucleic acid according to claim 1 that expresses the nucleic acid.
 12. A cell according to claim 11 that is a bacterium cell, an insect cell, or a yeast cell.
 13. A cell according to claim 11 that is a mammalian cell.
 14. A cell according to claim 13 that is a human 293 cell.
 15. A nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleic acid complementary to the nucleic acid according to claim
 1. 16. An antisense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to the nucleic acid according to claim 1 and that inhibits expression of the nucleic acid.
 17. A membrane or membrane preparation comprising a membrane or portion thereof of a cell expressing a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence substantially the same as SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, or SEQ ID NO
 5. 18. A membrane or membrane preparation according to claim 17 wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.
 19. An antibody or fragment thereof that is immunologically reactive to a mammalian Y5 receptor.
 20. An antibody or fragment according to claim 19 thereof wherein the mammalian Y5 receptor has an amino acid sequence substantially the same as one chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, and SEQ ID NO
 6. 21. An antibody or fragment thereof according to claim 19 that is a monoclonal antibody.
 22. An antibody or fragment thereof according to claim 20 that is a monoclonal antibody.
 23. A cell line producing an antibody according to claim
 19. 24. A cell line producing an antibody according to claim
 20. 25. A cell line producing an antibody according to claim
 21. 26. A cell line producing an antibody according to claim
 22. 27. An epitope of a mammalian Y5 receptor wherein the epitope is immunologically reactive to the antibody or fragment thereof according to claim
 19. 28. An epitope of a mammalian Y5 receptor wherein the epitope is immunologically reactive to the antibody or fragment thereof according to claim
 20. 29. An epitope of a mammalian Y5 receptor wherein the epitope is immunologically reactive to the antibody or fragment thereof according to claim
 21. 30. An epitope of a mammalian Y5 receptor wherein the epitope is immunologically reactive to the antibody or fragment thereof according to claim
 22. 31. A method of producing a neuropeptide Y receptor comprising culturing a cell according to claim 11 and recovering the receptor expressed by the cell.
 32. A method of producing a neuropeptide Y receptor comprising culturing a cell according to claim 12 and recovering the receptor expressed by the cell.
 33. A method of producing a neuropeptide Y receptor comprising culturing a cell according to claim 13 and recovering the receptor expressed by the cell.
 34. A method of producing a neuropeptide Y receptor comprising culturing a cell according to claim 14 and recovering the receptor expressed by the cell.
 35. A method of identifying a neuropeptide Y agonist or antagonist comprising contacting a potential agonist or antagonist molecule with a membrane or membrane preparation according to claim
 17. 36. A method of identifying a neuropeptide Y agonist or antagonist comprising contacting a potential agonist or antagonist molecule with a membrane or membrane preparation according to claim
 18. 37. A neuropeptide Y antagonist comprising a compound identified according to claim
 36. 38. A method of suppressing the appetite of a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an appetite suppressing amount of a neuropeptide Y antagonist according to claim
 37. 39. A method of suppressing the appetite of a mammal according to claim 38 wherein the amount of antagonist is from about 0.01 to about 100 mg/kg.
 40. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective appetite suppressing amount of an antagonist according to claim 37 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 41. A neuropeptide Y agonist comprising a compound identified according to claim
 36. 42. A method of stimulating the appetite of a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an appetite stimulating amount of a neuropeptide Y agonist according to claim
 41. 43. A method of stimulating the appetite of a mammal according to claim 42 wherein the amount of agonist is from about 0.01 to about 100 mg/kg.
 44. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective appetite stimulating amount of an agonist according to claim 41 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 45. A non-human transgenic mammal that expresses the nucleic acid having a sequence substantially the same one chosen from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, and SEQ ID NO
 5. 